Software Engineer - Fraud, X Money
xAIAbout xAI
xAI’s mission is to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge.
Our team is small, highly motivated, and focused on engineering excellence. This organization is for individuals who appreciate challenging themselves and thrive on curiosity.
We operate with a flat organizational structure. All employees are expected to be hands-on and to contribute directly to the company’s mission. Leadership is given to those who show initiative and consistently deliver excellence. Work ethic and strong prioritization skills are important.
All engineers and researchers are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.About the role
We’re hiring a Software Engineer focused on Fraud Engineering for X Money, a new financial platform being built within X (now part of XAI), serving 600 million+ monthly users. This is a high-priority role responsible for protecting users and the platform from fraud, abuse, and financial risk.
You’ll play a key role in designing and implementing systems to detect, prevent, and mitigate fraud in real time—at scale. Working at the intersection of security, distributed systems, and product engineering, you'll help build trusted financial infrastructure from the ground up.
What You'll Do
Design and implement fraud detection and prevention systems that operate at global scale and low latency
Develop risk scoring engines, anomaly detection pipelines, and real-time enforcement mechanisms
Collaborate with product, compliance, trust & safety, and infrastructure teams to ensure a secure and seamless user experience
Monitor and analyze fraud trends, and proactively respond to new attack vectors
Define engineering standards around observability, reliability, and rapid response in fraud-related systems
Who You Are
Experienced: 7+ years of backend or systems engineering, with exposure to fraud, risk, or abuse prevention systems preferred
Skilled in distributed systems: You’ve built resilient, high-throughput systems that operate under real-time constraints
Security-conscious: You understand threat models, data sensitivity, and defense-in-depth principles
Analytical and pragmatic: You value simple, high-leverage solutions and adapt quickly to evolving challenges
Builder mentality: You’re excited by zero-to-one problems and proven ability to thrive in fast-paced environments. You are willing to work hard.
Bonus
Experience with real-time anomaly detection, machine learning for fraud, or rule-based risk systems
Familiarity with AML/KYC regulations, chargeback flows, or identity verification systems
Experience in fintech, trust & safety, or adversarial system design
Comfortable working in a zero-to-one environment with rapid iteration
Tech Stack (Optional)
Golang
Postgres
Kafka
Memcached
Interview Process
After submitting your application, the team reviews your CV and statement of exceptional work. If your application passes this stage, you will be invited to a 30 minute phone interview, during which a member of our team will ask technical questions. If you clear the phone interview, you will proceed to next steps:
Coding assessment in a language of your choice.
Systems design: Translate high-level requirements into a scalable, fault-tolerant service.
Project deep-dive: Present your past exceptional work to a small audience.
Meet and greet with the wider team.
Our goal is to finish the main process within one week.
Location
The role is based in Palo Alto. Candidates are expected to be located near the Bay Area or open to relocation.
Annual Salary Range
$230,000 - $400,000 USD
xAI is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, religion, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, medical conditions, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act.
For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:
xAI reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment:
Access to information technology systems and confidential information, including proprietary and trade secret information, and/or user data;
Interacting with internal and/or external clients and colleagues; and
Exercising sound judgment.
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) NoticexAI is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, religion, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, medical conditions, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act.
For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:
xAI reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment:
Access to information technology systems and confidential information, including proprietary and trade secret information, and/or user data;
Interacting with internal and/or external clients and colleagues; and
Exercising sound judgment.
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Notice